Inventor Mitch Altman has created a keychain that is more than just a novelty item: it's designed to turn off most TVs with just the push of a button. The product, which goes by the name of TV-B-Gone, is made by Cornfield Electronics and sells for US$14.99. It's currently available from the company's website.

Altman, who hasn't owned a TV since 1980, has been working on TV-B-Gone for a few years. He implied that the invention is not intended to create problems for people who want to watch TV. According to Altman, “I can be mischievous, but I'm not going to do anything malicious, and I don't want to make anyone's life more difficult. I just don't like TV, and I'd like people to think more about this powerful medium in their lives.”

TV-B-Gone is a simple concept: the power codes for around 1,000 TVs are stored in the unit, and when the button is pressed TV-B-Gone cycles through all of them (it boils down to about 200 infrared codes) until the TV turns off. Altman claims most TVs will turn off in about 17 seconds, but the website says the full process could take 69 seconds.

The product's popularity has caught the inventor off-guard. Since being introduced in the magazine Wired, hundreds have been sold, and the traffic created crashed the website a few times.

CHRISTOPHER'S OPINION
Whatever. I understand the motivation, but that doesn't mean I get it. I guess it would be different if I felt that people wouldn't use TV-B-Gone in mischievous ways. Sure, I'm making an assumption about people, but I'm pretty confident in it.

There is no practical reason to have this device other than to control something that is not yours to control. Maybe I am overreacting, but I just see TV-B-Gone being used more to annoy people than for practical reasons.

Creative, yes, but an example of too much technology.

USER COMMENTS 76 comment(s)

Does “off” have a unique code?(12:58pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)if not it will turn a TV “on” as well - by darwinism

Agreed(12:58pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)Couldn't agree more.

BTW, anyone with a programmable remote control could do the same thing with a bit of research. - by Etcetera

The size is the thing(1:11pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004) Many “universal” remotes can do the same thing with the correct key sequence and a little patience. But, they are a little to big to carry around in your pocket unless you want to impress people in another way. The batteries in this thing are small, so I am wondering about IR power output and range. The website says the batteries can last up to 6 months.The AA batteries in my home remotes typicaly go two or three years. Lets hear some stories from someone who has one. - by RCAman

THIS IS THE BEST INVENTION OF THE 21st CENTURY!!!(1:21pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)WHAT a TRULY WONDERFUL idea!

TV-B-Gone:For that UTTERLY WORTHLESS glass tit.

CELLPHONE-B-Damned:For that vile new appendage in everyone's ear. And…

VID-CAP-F**k-Off-and-Die:For those little cameras that every ignoant jerk in the country has in their cellpones.

Every Mother, Father, Teacher, Pastor, and beaten down sibling in the country should have a TV-B-Gone!

This guy should be elected President.

- by Thoreau

BTW(1:24pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)This is one of those increasingly rare stories on geek.com that has an EXTREMELY HIGH GEEK FACTOR!!!

VERY Geeky gadget and story.

- by Thoreau

Okay(1:29pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)Apparently, the gadge will cycle through a known long list of infrared “off” codes used by TV makes so could take a minute or two to work, but a programmable remote could do the same thing if you wanted to mess with it that much.

So, now instead of gangs of geeks wardriving for wifi hotspots, they will swoop down on residential neighborhoods and turn off everyone's TV from the street through the window?

What about security camera monitors say at a department store or bank? Image would still go to tape/disk if set up to do so but the guard would be blinded, right? Yes, I realize this requires almost line-of-sight access to work so we'll leave those thoughts to someone else. - by TV Watcher

TV be gone(1:39pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)i like tv - by i like tv

darwinism(1:40pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)Excellent point. Most remotes use the same button for on and off, and they can't possibly know what state your TV is in (since you can turn your TV on and off manually as well), so on and off must have the same code in almost all cases. Anybody know more about this? - by Grover

Finally, a Quiet Moment(1:42pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)My wife and I have almost quit eating out because every restaurant thinks we want not only their damned musak blaring while we eat, but we surely need a TV in every corner of the room, all blaring out sports events or news, to help insure our relaxed dining experience. I hope this guy will come up with something to turn off the musak, too! Kudos to him for such a practical device. - by QuietSolace

What's next(1:44pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)Mitch — if you monitor this site — I'm BEGGING you to work on your next invention asap….

Cell-Phone-B-Gone! - by Tex Heads

Nice product – few uses(1:46pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)I think this thing will be mostly used for annoyance, but I did just recently experience a long journey with about 7 hours in airports where this thing would have been a god-send. Several times I was in an area with no one else and tried to sleep, only to be kept awake by a TV blairing Airport CNN at me – There, and perhaps at near-empty pubs, this thing could be legitemately used I guess (Or you could ask a worker to turn off the TVs) but I guess my life isn't imbued with TV to such an extent that I'd actually want a device to sureptitiously turn them off. - by Justin da Boo-dist

OK but….(1:48pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)Can it make my girlfriend shut-up for a minute? - by please help me

Great idea Tex Heads!(1:48pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)I too would LOVE a toy that would disrupt rude cell-phone users (those driving like an ass while talking on their phone or in theatres, say). But again – legitamate use may be rare… - by Justin da Boo-dist

Tex(1:48pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)Cell-Phones are worse.

He should call that one:CELLPHONE-B-Damned.

- by Thoreau

Big Woop!(1:49pm EST Thu Oct 21 2004)There's been TV remote control watches for a few years now, and some even cycle through the IR codes for you.

But if you get a TVBgone, make sure you have one of these too!! - by IR Bandit!